Got the Decorating Blahs?

Have you got a case of the ‘decorating blahs’?  Do you wish you could change things up a bit in your house, to keep things looking fresh and interesting?

Redecorating isn’t something you can just do on a whim, because it’s usually costly and time-consuming.  But, I’ve found some quick and easy decorating tips that can give rooms a new look, while spending little or no money and only taking a minimal amount of time and effort to complete.  In fact, all of these decorating ideas are so easy to inmplement (and easy on the wallet!) that you can change the look and feel of a room whenever the mood strikes!

As always, please feel free to add any other great decorating ideas you may have.  Your comments are always welcome!

Quick and Easy Decorating Ideas:

Add new pillows.  It’s so easy to add new accent colors to a room, or create a new focal point, with just a few throw pillows on the couch, a chair, a corner sofa bed, or even a twin mattress in a kid’s room.   This is a great way to try out new colors, or change the accent color palette of a room, especially if your walls and furniture are neutral.  Try out some of the hot new color combinations - blue and brown, yellow and gray, purple and green, brown and blue - or use any color combo that you like!   You can also add interest to a room by introducing new textures, patterns, and trims.  Be bold and don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns.  Remember, it’s not a huge commitment.  Afghans and throw blankets also can add new interest to furniture.

Paint one wall of a room to create a focal point.   This requires a little more effort than the first idea, but not a big investment of time or money.  By painting just one wall in the room a different color, you create a new focal point in the room.  Again, this is a great opportunity to be a little bold.  If you find that you’re not happy with the new color, you can always paint over it again.

Rearrange items on shelves or tables.  You don’t have to purchase all new decorative items or accessories to display around your room.  Just move them around a little to create a new look.  Change the grouping of books on a bookshelf.  Organize similar items together by shape, size or color.  Better yet, move items among rooms to change the look even more.  If you have items that relate to your interests or personality, put them out and group them together.  Every time you pass by them, they’ll put a smile on your face.

Change the lighting.  Most people don’t realize how much lighting changes the mood of the room.  Task lighting, floor lighting and overhead lighting all create a different atmosphere.  If you can’t afford to get all new lighting fixtures, update the lampshades with some trim or beading, change the type of lightbulbs you use, or move the light fixtures around the room for new placement and new effects.  Also, if you are looking to change the look of your outdoor decor, nothing makes more of an impact on a budget than changing some of the outdoor lighting.  The change can shine new light on your existing garden decor and really make it sparkle. 

Update photos or arrange frames in groupings.  We tend to put photos in frames and then just leave them there.  Instead of cluttering up tables and shelves with lots of frames holding outdated photos, keep just your favorite frames and periodically update the photos.   Create a focal point in a room by arranging photos together with similar types or colors of frames or similar themed photos.  The display can be hung on a wall or grouped on a table or shelf.   Adding new framed artwork or mirrors will also update the look of a room, but may be a bit more costly.

Move furniture.  This requires no outlay of money, but just a little sweat equity.  Move the furniture around the room to create a new flow of space and perspective.  Smaller pieces (like accent chairs or ottomans) can even be swapped out among different rooms, providing the colors work well together.

Purchase some inexpensive furniture - If you really want to change things up a bit and just moving the furniture isn’t enough, there are plenty of options for adding inexpensive furniture pieces to add some new life to your decor.  For example, some cheap bedroom furniture with a bunch of new pillows can really create a whole new look, or an inexpensive side table in the living room with a few rearranged accessories can do the trick as well.

Add an area rug.  A new rug can introduce new colors and textures into an existing space.  Rugs can also be used to redefine spaces.

Grow something green.  Add a few houseplants to your room to make the room more ‘alive’ and to add textural interest to the space.  If you have a hard time keeping plants alive, opt for silk plants, but make sure they look real or the effect will be a bit cheesy.

Eliminate clutter.  If over time, you’ve accumulated lots of ‘stuff’ and your room has lost its focus, it’s time to remove some of the clutter.  Take all the small decorative accents out of the room and start over again, only putting back the items that really make a decorative statement in the room or have a lot of personal meaning.  Box up or donate the rest.   An uncluttered room is clean, organized and restful.  Want an added bonus?  Uncluttered rooms take less time to clean!

Add some new window treatments.  Adding some new window treatments can go a long way towards sprucing up a room.  Window treatments can be an inexpensive pick me up in a room.  Although some treatments can get rather pricey, you can pick up some cheap blinds or curtains that can easily change the look of a room. 

I hope that some of the above quick and easy decorating ideas inspire you to change things up in your house and give it a fresh new look.  Happy decorating!